Here's how I feel about DACs. You listen to a bunch of them in your system if possible. Then one comes along and it just sounds right, regardless of MSRP. That's the one you stick with. My PWD just sounds right to me. I don't know anything about how much "air" or "timbre" or any of that shit it has, but I know that right now my rig sounds good with the PWD in it. The only thing I regret is how much I spent, but that's just part of the hobby.
After the SQ criterion is fulfilled, I personally like features like multiple inputs, digital screens, beautiful beautiful lights, etc. The PWD satisfies that.
But for the most part, I now think that a DAC should be set and forget.
I'm not sure how any of this helps.